About a week ago I headed out to rocky ford with a good friend of mine I run a washington fly fishing site with. It is a spring creek and is basically all sight fishing to very large rainbows. It is not uncommon to see fish pushing 30 inches and my partner did take a 29 incher during the trip.

Here is one of my fish. It was around 24 inches which is nothing to brag about at this place but it was very heavy. Would have taken three of my hands to fit around its belly. The pic does not really do it justice. It was taken on a size 18 olive scud in about 2 feet of water.

Had a great time and there is nothing quite like sight casting to such large fish in the desert. I will take watching a fish track and engulf your nymph over dry fly fishing any day. A very exciting way to fish.

I use a 4wt most of the time for larger trout. About as low as I feel comfortable going and not stressing the fish to much. I used my 3wt once but it just did not have the power to really bear down on the fish. Nothing worse than seeing a trout go belly up just because you fought them too long. Would rather have them break me off. Plus the fun part is that first jump and long run.

I don't have anything under a 5 weight. I guess I have been a 6 weight person all my life for trout fishing. Steelhead and salmon 7-10 weights. No good small pond or lake fishing for trout around here like you have out west. Some in Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and UP of Michigan, but thats a 6-8 hour drive. Lake Michigan is very close but thats all steelhead, salmon, and browns in an inland ocean. You do not just wade in and catch trout there on a fly rod. Only at certain times can a FF have a shot at them close to shore.